Week 3 Streaming Options

Week 3 is upon us which means relevant data can be compiled, organized, and consumed by fantasy owners looking for the particular edge when it comes to streaming options at quarterback or total defenses. And yes, I know it’s only a small sample size, it beats the alternative which would leave all of us in the dark throwing darts hoping that one of them hits the board. But this is why reading my Week 3 Streaming Options each week is such an asset; allow me to do some of the heavy work for you, my fellow fantasy owners. I hope that my selections for the first two weeks have brought you victory in your particular match-ups and I look forward to assisting you in the weeks ahead.

Here are my week 3 streaming options for the quarterback and total defense position for Week 3:

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

DeShone Kiser | QB

This should be an excellent spot for the Kizer and the Browns offense when they travel to Indianapolis to meet the 0-2 Colts. It’s his easiest matchup to date which is why I have him here as a streaming option, but right now his value is higher in 2QB/Superflex leagues due to his running ability and propensity to attack defenses with the deep ball.

Carson Palmer | QB

The flaws in his game at this late stage in his career are apparent, but he fighting through them, even without John Brown and David Johnson. It’s been an ugly 2-games, but he is still streamable this week with a Monday night meeting at home against the Cowboys due to the injury situation in Dallas’ secondary and he did put up rather good numbers in the painful overtime win at the Colts in Week 2.

Jared Goff | QB

Goff wasn’t as productive against a middle-of-the-road Washington defense as fantasy owners thought/expected he would be. The feeble Colts made the Rams offense look like it had taken a bigger step forward in Week 1. On a short week of preparation, Goff is a low-end streaming option against the 49ers, although he did look better in Week 2 than he did at any point during his rookie season. Should you be expecting 300 yards, 3 TD’s, 0 INT? Probably not, but something in the range of 250-275 yards, 2 TD’s, 1 INT is a strong possibility and would suit fine if you went with Goff in a pinch.

Jay Cutler | QB

Cutler decided to play safe football and stay within himself (for a change) and it was enough to get a road win against a tough Chargers defense (with some last minute assistance from their kicker). Being with Adam Gase definitely, helps his decision-making and should make him a strong weekly play/streaming option when the matchup is in the Dolphins favor and it’s very apparent here when Miami takes on the toothless New York Jets defense. Although you might have to temper expectations because Gase might decide to make this a Jay Ajayi game and give him 20-30 touches, so Cutler’s ceiling might not be as high as you might want it to be.

Trevor Siemian | QB

To be clear, Siemian isn’t an elite fantasy quarterback, although he ranks QB2 after two weeks which is rather surprising considering the Broncos front office was quietly hoping that Paxton Lynch would take the job outright during training camp. His strengths, which include accuracy, composure, and consistency helped take Siemian to 5th in passing rating, and to the best TD-INT ratio in the entire NFL. But the Bills have allowed the seventh-lowest passer rating since the start of last season so there is a risk of regression hitting him and the Broncos passing game in this trip to Western New York. It’s too early in the season to see him as a QB1 in standard leagues, but Siemian has undoubtedly become a solid starter in 2QB/Superflex leagues so start him with confidence. Plus, he should be owned in all leagues regardless of scoring or lineup format.

Philadelphia Eagles | DST

Although the Eagles did give up 27 points to a KC offense which torched the Patriots for 42 points in the Thursday night opener, they did manage to sack the elusive Alex Smith four times which portends a very strong bounce-back performance when the New York Giants come to Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday. To say the Giants are struggling as a whole on the offensive side of the ball would be a gross understatement. An inability to protect the passer and running game which is basically non-existent is a perfect fit for the Eagles front-seven to feast on this woeful offensive line and the veritable statue known as Eli Manning. Plus, the Giants gave an up an 88-yard punt return for a TD Monday night and ageless wonder Darren Sproles is always a threat to take one to the house.

Cleveland Browns | DST

Now for the Browns defense to end up on this list means they are facing one of the worst offenses in the NFL…and you would be right if you guessed the Indianapolis Colts. Give all credit to Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams for breathing life into this side of the ball and making them competitive through the first two games and they are doing this without the 1st pick of the NFL Draft in Myles Garrett. Enter the Colts and Jacoby Brissett making his second start of the year replacing the ineffective Scott Tolzien. Despite being the road team, the sharps in Vegas at the moment have the Browns favored by “a fair smidgen” (S/O to @SportsbySharona for the phrase) meaning that they believe that the Browns are more of a complete team than the Colts, so it would make sense to use their defense as a streaming option if you’re looking for possible double-digits from a low-cost selection.

Miami Dolphins | DST

Following their victory against the Chargers, the Dolphins travel to the Meadowlands to face the offensively challenged, hapless New York Jets. Of course, they will be a trendy waiver wire pick due to their opponent and since they just played their first game of the year due to Hurricane Irma, and put the clamps on a rather potent offense like the Los Angeles Chargers. Despite the team suspending their starting middle linebacker Lawrence Timmons due to him going AWOL the night before, the Dolphins D should have enough playmakers to handle the meager Jets offensive weaponry and be a useful streaming option.

Pittsburgh Steelers | DST

I think that every team that faces either the Bears or Jets, I’ll have their particular DST as a streaming option for the foreseeable future since neither team seemingly has a capable threat on the offensive side. This is the case here as the Steelers travel to the Windy City to face the Bears. I know it’s only a two-game sample size, but as of this writing, the Steelers defense is 3rd in Total Defense (237.0 YPG), 8th rushing (74.0 YPG), 5th receiving (163.0), 7th scoring(13.5). All of the statistical evidence shows you in plain black and white (or black and gold…haha) they are an extremely useful under-the-radar streamer with expectations of double-digit points very reasonable.

Green Bay Packers | DST

Coming off a tough Sunday night defeat to the defending NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons, the Packers return home to face a Bengals team who have yet to score a touchdown this season and in turn fired their offensive coordinator(Ken Zampese) and replaced him with quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor (insert obligatory Dr. Evil GIF here). Cincinnati has had 10 days to somehow try and find their offensive rhythm, flow, swagger or whatever you want to call it, but they’ll need everything in their arsenal to get a win at Lambeau Field. It is important to note the health status of Mike Daniels, Green Bay’s best interior lineman, who left Sunday night’s game early in the 1st quarter with a mild hamstring injury. If he can’t go or is limited in any way, it’s a downgrade for the Packers defense, but the inclusion of the Packers DST here is a total match-up streaming option against a 0-2 team who hasn’t scored a touchdown, so deciding to use the Packers comes with some inherent risk, but that’s part of thrill of participating in fantasy football.